A 26-year-old Indian diver lost his life near Manoel Island on Sunday afternoon.

Police assistance was requested at around 1.40pm, with beachgoers reporting that there was an unconscious man in the water.

A search was mounted with the help of the police, the armed forces and the Civil Protection Department. The man's lifeless body was found some time later.

Magistrate Astrid May Grima is leading an inquiry. The police are also investigating.

This is the second swimming-related fatality of the weekend. On Sunday morning the Armed Forces of Malta found the dead body of an American man who went missing while swimming at Migra l-Ferha.